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Final U.S. tuneup for World Cup could draw more than 50,000

Photos by Gary McCullough For The Times-Union U.S. men's national team goalkeeper Tim Howard signs a soccer ball for Brandon DeVries of Pensacola after a public training session at EverBank Field on Friday. The U.S. team takes on Nigeria in a World Cup Send-off Series match Saturday in Jacksonville.

U.S. forward Chris Wondolowski kicks the ball during Friday's scrimmage.

Gary McCullough For The Times-Union U.S. men's national team midfielder Alejandro Bedoya takes a shot on goal during Friday's training session.

Soccer fever is officially sweeping the First Coast, as the United States soccer team prepares for its final test before the World Cup in Brazil.

Officials expect the largest crowd ever for a friendly match in the Southeast when the Americans conclude their Send-Off Series against African champion Nigeria at 6 p.m. Saturday at EverBank Field.

Coming just one week before the World Cup, the match will be the largest soccer event in the city’s history.

With an anticipated crowd of more than 50,000, according to the United States Soccer Federation, Jacksonville is poised to shatter its existing regional attendance record.

Jacksonville also set the previous mark, drawing 44,432 for a May 2012 exhibition against Scotland.

It’s the last chance for players to make a case for the starting eleven in the tournament opener.

“Do we have a lineup in mind? Absolutely, every coach has that at this point,” head coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. “But this is why you have the send-off games, to give some minutes to the players.”

On Friday, an estimated 2,500 fans flocked to EverBank Field to view a public training session for the American team, heading to its seventh straight World Cup.

For former U.S. international striker Brian McBride, a three-time participant at the World Cup, the final match before qualifying typically means one last dry run before the games that really count.

“They’re working on the shape this week,” he said. “Usually, what you see on the field for the third game is what the coach thinks is going to be on the field for the World Cup.”

The Send-Off Series has highlighted both strengths and weaknesses in the American squad. The good: Michael Bradley has emerged as the conductor of the midfield, and Fabian Johnson seems to have converted well to right back.

The bad: The Americans were lucky to escape against Turkey after allowing numerous scoring chances.

“If we give Turkey that amount of chances in that game, you know you have to fix a lot of stuff the day after,” Klinsmann said. “We have to minimize mistakes the closer we get to the Ghana game.”

Before training this week, Bradley said that laying the foundation for a strong run in Brazil is what this game is about.

“The most important thing is understanding that these games aren’t about the results,” he said. “Obviously, we want to win, and we want to play well, and we want to build some momentum and confidence. But it’s important to look at these games in the context of the big picture, which means we want to be ready for Ghana on June 16.”

The Americans open the World Cup against Ghana, before meeting Portugal and then Germany.

Saturday’s opponent, Nigeria, confronts the U.S. with a bold and fast-paced attack built around midfielder John Obi Mikel of Chelsea and winger Victor Moses of Liverpool.

“They’re going to be an athletic team, a fast team,” midfielder Brad Davis said. “They’re going to be pretty close to the Ghanaian side... I think this is going to be the best test for us.”

With a boisterous crowd roaring them on, American players like Florida-born Graham Zusi are eagerly awaiting kickoff.

“Jacksonville has proved to be a great site for the national team. ... It’s just a testament to the fans,” he said. “They want to send us off in the best way possible, and we want to give them the best show possible as well.”